Trick lung tester



May 2, 1933. w. F. c, KLOEPFER TRICK LUNG TESTER Filed Dec. 8, 1931 INVENTOR WILLIAM EC KLOEPFER BY ms ATTCRNEYZ Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES WILLIAM F. G. KLOEPFER, OF ST. ALBANS, NEW YORK TRICK LUNG TESTER Application filed December 8, 1931. Serial No. 579,672.

acterized by a pair of parallel spaced pipes for insertion in ones mouth, one of said pipes extending through a container holding lamp black and directed against a fan rotatively mounted on the container and the other of the pipes discharging into the container which is formed with an opening to direct lamp black or the like against ones face during testing of ones lungs if air is blown through the tube discharging into the r container. A small blind pipe is mounted upon the front of the container in line with the pipe which discharges into the container so that the identity of the two parallel pipes is not easily established.

The arrangement of the spaced pipes is a feature of this invention in that persons aware of the construction of the invention but not skilled by practice in the operation thereof may accidentally blow through both pipes simultaneously and thus receive a discharge of lamp black.

A still further object of this invention is to change the location of the fan so that dif- P ferent amounts of wind pressure is neces d sary to cause it to rotate.

A still further object of this invention is the construction of a device of the class de scribed which is of simple, durable constructiom dependable in use and efficient in operation. and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof. reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure Fig. 1 is a. perspective view of a device constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal central sectional view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view looking in the direction of the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View showing the details of the mounting of the fan.

Fig. 5 is another embodiment of the invention. I

The trick lung tester has a container for holding lamp black or the like and is formed with a small opening 11 in the rear end through which the lamp black may discharge when a pressure or disturbance is'set up within the container. At the side, the container has an opening for the insertion of the lamp black which may be closed by a threaded plug 12 or the like. In Figs. 1 and 2 the container is shown circular in transverse cross section and composed of a metal tube having discs 13 closing the ends. These discs are set slightly from the ends so that the opening 11 is hid from view, the opening being located along the periphery of the disc.

' A fan 14 is rotatively mounted upon the front end of the container 10. A wind pipe 15 extends completely through the container and discharges against the fan 14 to cause its rotation when wind is blown through the pipe. A second pipe 16 is parallel to the pipe 15 and extends into the container from the rear end. The pipe 16 is spaced from the pipe 15 so as to make it inconvenient to close one of the pipes with the tongue when the pipes are inserted in the mouth and an attempt is made to blow through the other pipe. A blind pipe 17 is mounted on the front disc 13 in line with the pipe 16 to simulate a continuation of the pipe 16. This blind pipe is positioned so as to appear to discharge against the fan 14.

In Fig. 4 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in which a container 18 is shown distinguishing from the container 10 merely in shape. This latter container is shown of square shape in transverse cross section. In other respects the 95 construction is identical and corresponding parts may be recognized by similar reference numerals. The containers may be made of metal, cardboard or any other rigid material or a combination of rigid materials. The

end plates of the container 18 are indicated by reference numerals 19.

The fan 14 is rotatively supported upon a recessed portion 20 of a screw 21 threadedly engaged upon a disc 22 secured upon the end of a hollow rod 23 mounted upon the end of the container. The head of the screw 24 is disposed within the hollow so that the extension of the screw is limited. A knob 25 is fixed upon the outer end of the screw 24 to allow for turning so that the screw may be set to various extended positions.

In use the person must place both of the tubes, 15 and 16, in the mouth and blow to cause turning of the fan. The rate of speed of turning will indicate the strength with which the person can blow. A person familial. with the construction of the device and skilfull in its operation can hold the pipe 16 closed with the tongue and blow through the pipe 15 to cause rotation of the fan. onlookers, unfamiliar with the device will not be aware that one of the tubes is held closed with the tongue and when offered to test the power of their lungs will blow through both tubes simultaneously. Blowing through the tube 16 causes agitation of lamp black or similar material within the container which will be discharged through the opening 11 upon the persons face.

Other onlookers, seeing the consequences of blowing through both of the tubes may guess that one tube must be held closed with the tongue and be anxious to demonstrate that they can operate the device successfully. It

requires practice to hold the tube closed with the tongue and blow simultaneously because of the distance with which the tubes are spaced apart and consequently, invariably,

' the person will not be able to blow suflicientlv hard through the tube 15 to cause the fan to turn unless the tube is moved into an advantageous position, in which position some air will pass through the tube 16 and cause the discharge of the lamp black against the persons face.

The distance of the fan 14 from the discharge end of the tube 15 may be varied to change the degree of blowing necessary to cause the fan to turn. The degree of blpwing is a function of the location of ones tongue against the tube 16 so that the harder the blowing the greater the chance of allowing some air to enter the tube 16.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of construction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. In a trick lung tester, a container for lamp black or the like, a fan rotatively mounted on the front end, a wind pipe extending through the container from the rear end to the front end and directed to discharge against the fan, asecond pipe spaced laterally to said wind pipe and extending into the rear end of the container, and a blind pipe on the front end of the container simulating a con tinuation of the second pipe.

2. In a' trick lung tester, a container for lamp black or the like, a fan rotatively mounted on the front end, a wind pipe extending through the container from the rear end to the front end and directed to discharge against the fan, a second pipe spaced laterally to said wind pipe and extending into the rear end of the container, a blind pipe on the front end of the container simulating a continuation of the second pipe, and means for adjusting the position of the fan to change its distance from the discharge end of the wind tube.

3. In a trick lung tester, a container for lamp black or the like and having a small opening in the rear end, a fan rotatively mounted. on the front end, a wind pipe extending through the container from the rear end to the front end and directed to discharge against the fan, a second pipe spaced laterally to said wind pipe and extending into the rear end of the container, a blind pipe on the front end of the container simulating a continuation of the second pipe and means for adjusting the position of the fan to change its distance from the discharge end of the Wind tube, comprising a screw rotatively supporting said fan and adjustably mounted in a member secured upon the nd of the container.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature.

lVILLIAM F. C. KLOEPT ER. 

